Full resolution (JPEG) - On this page / på denna sida - Sidor ...
<< prev. page << föreg. sida << >> nästa sida >> next page >>
Below is the raw OCR text
from the above scanned image.
Do you see an error? Proofread the page now!
Här nedan syns maskintolkade texten från faksimilbilden ovan.
Ser du något fel? Korrekturläs sidan nu!
This page has never been proofread. / Denna sida har aldrig korrekturlästs.
Doc. 199. 563
SWEDENBORG TO NORDBERG .
were marked so clearly that they could all be recited in their
order without difficulty or burdening the memory, and that
on account of their regularity they could also be written
down. After the number sixty -four was reached , and the
series had to be continued with two numbers until sixty
four times sixty -four, or 4096, new names followed in their
order, the original distinctions however being retained; and
this took place by such a natural system of variation as
followed almost of its own accord, so that new and satis
factory names were obtained for every number no matter
how high or how great; so that no number could be given,
which could not by following the established principle and
rules, be furnished with a sufficiently distinctive name. This
project in the King’s own writing, and the original of which
I still have in my possession, as already mentioned, was
graciously sent to me, in order that I might prepare a table,
in which the distinction in names and character between
this and the usual method might be exhibited. In this same
project it was also indicated, how the multiplication and
division, where so many great difficulties would be expected,
were to be carried out.
When this project had by the royal command to be further
developed, and an opportunity was then afforded to me, to
examine it more in detail, and to see whether this method
could not be arranged in a better and more convenient way,
no matter how much I studied it, I could not discover any
thing which could be improved ; and it is my frank opinion
that nobody, though he had employed all his time upon
mathematics, would have found anything to correct. The
compendious mode of His Majesty in the discovery of charac
ters and names, and the easy method in which they could be
changed, so that by means of certain marks, they could be
varied by each new number, as well as his project for multi
plication, considering the short time he devoted to it, could
not fail to excite my astonishment ; and I am compelled there
fore to regard him as a man of deeper thought and more
subtle penetration, than could or can be supposed by any
other man ; I am forced also to admit that if he had chosen
he could have been for all times the foremost among his sub
36 *
<< prev. page << föreg. sida << >> nästa sida >> next page >>
